Devouring Monarch: Rebirth of the Profane Phoenix

The sky tore open.

The beast's body slammed Asura into the distance as he stared towards the swirling tornado formed of lightning and white flame.

'So beautiful...'

Heavy winds assaulted the world, empowering the huge vortex of wind. A deep growl resounded from within.

Filled with anger, resentment and fear.

Gorehowl lashed forward with its disgusting tendrils while Asura seemed off guard. However, his body twisted the moment they were close enough to penetrate his body.

Asura flicked out his fingertips before a cruel black flame flickered like a small match.

"Burn."

The next moment, the flame devoured the beast's tendrils and shot towards its body. While the roars grew in volume, drowning out its howls of pain.

Each slash was precise and accurate, like a snake weaving through the beast's defences. The black flames devoured its vitality while Asura continued his assault, tearing its armour and defences one bit at a time.

The beast let out an angry growl, its body smashing into Asura, their bodies tearing into each other blow for blow, Asura's fists and lance, while the beast used its body and feet, brawling each other repeatedly.

⟪Asura Combat Arts⟫

—Void Palm

Asura's eyes watched Gorehowl struggle, his Anima pulsing through his left arm, the beautiful runes and etchings flashing the more Anima he focused on the strike before he thrust out his palm, targeting Gorehowl's stomach.

⟪Asura Combat Arts⟫

—Void Destruction Blast

Asura's palm exploded against the beast, his Anima condensing into a terrifying blast, causing Gorehowl to float into the air from the initial blow and spit out blood, its insides damaged, yet it still stood strong.

Until the force of his Anima exploded from the impact, Gorehowl's body blasted backwards, creating a vast crater, its body bleeding profusely as Asura stood tall, staring at it coldly.

"I cannot fall, for a lovely dragon is waiting for my compliments on her lovely figure."

⟪Asura Combat Arts⟫

—Void Piercing Thrust

The tip of Lumeris Nova burned fiercely, the black flames reaching new heights—Asura squatted his body, spreading his legs as he pulled back the lance, his entire body using every muscle and ounce of Anima; a swirling black blade covered the lance tip as he bled from his muscles and nose.

'This is it!'

He felt the explosive power at the tip of his lance while the entire forest seemed torn apart by the gigantic creature above, its loud calls for attention, a deep rumbling of thunder as purple lightning danced across the land.

"GO!"

Black flames coated the huge blade lance as Asura's feet kicked off the ground. His wings flapped heavily, launching his entire body towards Gorehowl, his eyes calm and focused as the beast raised its tendrils, blocking his path.

However, the sharp blade of the lance pierced forward, but he didn't care as its howl overpowered the beast above, penetrating the tendrils and turning them into meat paste; Gorehowl's body could not withstand Asura's explosive power as he penetrated its tough defence.

His Anima exploded, tearing through its stomach, the black flames burning furiously inside its body while Asura's face remained calm and collected.

⟪Asura Combat Arts⟫

—Void Collapsing Retreat

Asura's wings flapped heavily, pulling his body out of Gorehowl's stomach before the black flames exploded, causing its body to shudder.

"..."

Asura gazed at the beast, its tendrils slowly retracting towards its body as it realised death approached. Its eyes trembled, gazing at Asura as if asking, 'Why?'

"It was a fair battle... If I didn't overestimate you, I might have lost."

Asura's crisp voice entered Gorehowl's ears, causing its body to stiffen, its tendrils quivering, the fire burning away the outer layer of its body before it seemed to accept death and understand Asura's words.

"You were an excellent trial. Gorehowl."

Most likely because Asura was part dragon and phoenix, both were divine beasts— of course, they could communicate with other beasts.

Asura grasped Lumeris Nova, pointing the blade towards Gorehowl's forehead, the flames burning intensely, causing its body to become docile, as if trusting Asura completely as its enormous eyes stared at him calmly.

⟪Dragon Arts⟫

—Absolute Fire

"Goodbye."

Asura pierced forward, his Anima pulsing through his soul weapon, the flames exploding, penetrating Gorehowl's brain, causing it to lose all strength.

Its body shuddered, but surprisingly, Asura's left hand caressed its head, comforting the beast as it closed its eyes and accepted death, its body falling to the ground with a loud thud.

'Now then... My lovely wife, why do you seem so upset.'

Turning around, he saw the huge, snake-like white dragon with purple scales tingling with lightning in the air; her eyes turned orange as if in a state of berserk.

Asura shook his head, looked for a place to stand close to her and flew to it.

Once on the broken mountain, he could see her figure clearly, her enormous size causing Asura to wonder if Xavida would ever grow this big.

⟪White Dragon Arts⟫

—Vanquishing Lighting Storm

The White Dragon roared, its roar shaking the heavens as the tornado of purple lightning and white flames surrounded the Bishop's body.

In contrast, Asura frowned instead of moving closer. He shouted, using Anima to increase his volume so much that it echoed throughout the Southern wilds.

"Hey, Wife. Let's go have some fun!"

Asura's crisp voice entered Xavida's ears, causing her eyes to turn round in disbelief, her body circling the tornado of lightning and flames, causing the Bishop below to scream angrily.

It was a simple shout... The man of her dreams stood with blood, bruises and a broken arm on a hilltop... his face smiling, so handsome as always.

'Wife...?'

'Wife...'

'Wife.... he called me a wife, even now?'

The Bishop tried to summon his magic, but his ears bled... the reverberation from Xavida's two enormous hearts, both thumping from the words of Asura, interrupted his cast and burst his eardrums.

"I won't let you go... It's too late now... Asura.... my dear husband... Ah~ he accepted this form; he accepted me, Father ~ I can't let him go now!' (Dragon Speech)

Her brutal roars caused the Bishop's mental defence to shatter. If he knew she was just an obsessive girl in love, he might stab himself as he desperately tried to summon two golems to fight back.

"Filthy whore... The Lord will not abandon me; our divine son stands watching me!"

⟪White Dragon Arts⟫

—Vanishing Lightning Bolt!

Xavida's mouth opened, unleashing a gigantic bolt of purple lightning, penetrating the rock giants and protecting the Bishop while his mental defence shattered, causing him to vomit blood before the lightning bolt struck his body.

Unlike before, the lightning bolts finally hit... but Xavida wasn't done. She watched him being electrocuted, then dove for the kill, her sharp claws slashing at the Bishop's body, leaving deep gashes.

However, her thoughts drifted to Asura... watching her monstrous appearance, her heart racing, her Anima unstable. 'Does he accept me? Will he hug me? Kiss me? Touch my body and tell me I'm the most beautiful dragon in the world!'

Xavida's rampage continued until the Bishop fell to the ground, his body twitching and burnt... his skin peeling while blood pooled around his body.

Anima rushed into her mouth before her throat glowed bright red. Her two hearts beat rapidly, filled with excitement and delight. Before she lifted her head to the skies, lightning and flame met together as she flung her face down.

⟪White Dragon Arts⟫

∟ Vanquishing Dragon's Breath!

Xavida released her breath attack, the Bishop's body instantly disintegrating under the extreme heat and lightning, leaving nothing behind before Xavida landed, her massive size crushing everything nearby, her eyes searching for Asura.

'Where?'

'Did he leave me!?'

"I'm sorry, come back... I'll make myself prettier... Don't go!" (Dragon speech)

Her eyes filled with tears before she couldn't find his figure... She felt he abandoned her, and now she was alone... Xavida cried pitifully, her head lowering while thinking she messed up.

"Wife~ Over here!"

'Huh!'

Her enormous eyes snapped up, her gaze locking onto Asura, standing right before her eyes as his lips touched her upper lip before he stepped onto her maw, walking closer to her gigantic eyes, bigger than his body.

His kiss was barely tangible, but she felt it, and her enormous body began thrashing around, destroying most of the surrounding forest.

"Hey, Xavi. Your dragon scales are super pretty."

'Really~ Husband accepts me! Darling~ he loves me. He loves me! He loves me!!'

Xavida's enormous body shivered, her Anima circulating rapidly, returning her to human form, naked with a deep gash in her chest as Asura caught her body and kissed her lips once more.

The transformation seemed to take all her power, as she could barely lift her hand to stroke his cheek. "Darling~ You accept me. You don't think I'm ugly?"

Asura smiled, carrying her naked body while kissing her lips before his fingers stroked her chin and cheeks. "Xavi, I told you already. No matter what form you take. You are my lovely little dragon wife. I thought you looked beautiful dancing among the lightning and flames."

Xavida's tears dripped down her eyes before Asura licked her tears and kissed her again, his fingers stroking her breasts, causing her Anima to stabilise, healing her wound while he carried her naked body, heading towards their cave.

"Darling~ I love you."

"Mhm, I love you too."

"But we should probably run..."

"Ehehe."

Asura noticed their battle was only masked while the Bishop was alive. The moment he died, the forest changed, and the surrounding royal knights seemed to rush towards this area.

He didn't want to explain everything, and Xavida was naked... So it was partly his male jealousy, too.